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Jacques Villeneuve competes in Argentinean Top Race series

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Khatir Soltani
Canadian race car driver Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, competed this past weekend in the Argentinean Top Race V6 Series at the Autodromo Juan y Oscar Galvez in Buenos Aires.

Jacques Villeneuve during one of the many press conferences.

The 37-year old Canadian was invited by the organizers to compete in the eighth round behind the wheel of the No. 27 Volkswagen Passat, among a 44-car field.

The Top Race features spec tubular chassis with identical 3.0-litre engines producing around 350 bhp. The main difference between cars is the bodyworks, which resemble top-end models of nine different manufacturers.

On Saturday, Villeneuve he qualified his car 17th and started the sprint race on Sunday from the fifth row of the grid, finishing 13th.

Jacques Villeneuve in his VW Passat.

The main event started on a damp track that created chaos in the field. Villeneuve started 26th and sliced though the field, capitalizing on mistakes from rivals, who struggled to stay on a track that got increasingly difficult as the rain intensified while most of the field, including Villeneuve, tried to get to the finish on slick tyres.

With just two laps remaining, Villeneuve had already made his way up to sixth place but he lost control of his car under braking in one turn, spinning into the sand trap. He was able to rejoin the race and was classified a lap down and in16th place in the end.

"It was a great experience for me," said Jacques Villeneuve after the race. "The race was great, the way fans like it with plenty of incidents happening every lap. The rain helped me a lot and I was able to make up a lot of places.
photo:Top Race
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada